Differentiation Between Single-Base and Double-Base Gunpowders

One aspect of our continuing investigation of smokeless gunpowders in the forensic science laboratory has been the differentiation between single-base and double-base gunpowders. Nitrocellulose is the basic ingredient in single-base gunpowder. Nitroglycerine added to nitrocellulose in quantities varying from 1 to 40% w/w is the distinguishing ingredient of double-base gunpowders.